The Cleveland Browns have made their quarterback call, and it's not the one many fans hoped for. On Monday, the team confirmed that Deshaun Watson will be under center when the 2026 regular season kicks off, relegating Shedeur Sanders to backup duty. The announcement has ignited a firestorm of criticism, with fans questioning how a highly touted rookie could lose out to a player who has been booed by his own crowd.
Watson will lead the Browns into Jacksonville for their Week 1 opener, followed by a road trip to Tampa Bay. The decision ends a preseason battle that many believed Sanders had a legitimate shot to win—especially given Watson's recent struggles and the brutal preseason showing that had fans calling for change.
Fan Outrage: 'How Bad Is Shedeur?'
The backlash was immediate and intense. Social media lit up with fans expressing disbelief that Sanders couldn't unseat Watson, who has been battling injuries and inconsistent play.
- "How bad is Shedeur? If this was a 50/50, even a 60/40 split between the two, you have to play Sanders," one fan posted.
- "Like, how BAD is Shedeur Sanders?" another added.
- "How bad is Shedeur if he can't beat someone out who tore his Achilles twice???" a third fan chimed in.
The criticism comes on the heels of a media circus surrounding Sanders, with some beat writers even accusing him of hiring an online army to boost his image. But Sanders has remained classy throughout, even defending Watson after the veteran was booed during a recent preseason game.
Sanders Defends Watson
"I do not appreciate that at all," Sanders said of the boos. "Regardless of competition, we're all human beings." He added, "I don't really do things to humans I wouldn't want done to me."
Sanders went on to appeal to the fans directly: "For all the fans, we appreciate y'all showing up and everything. However you feel about the situation with Deshaun, still, I think it's more about a bigger purpose. Just respect. It's just a respect thing, that I feel like should be there. Because we're all out there trying to do our best. Trying to serve the franchise the best way possible. We're going out there to win games. We're doing everything we can do. So I don't really appreciate that."
His comments drew praise for their maturity, but they didn't quell the frustration. Even Sanders' mom stole the show with a bold game-day look, but the focus remains on the field—and the decision to keep Watson as QB1.
What's Next for Sanders?
This isn't necessarily the end of the story. The Browns face a tough start on the road, and if Watson struggles and the team falls to 0-2, pressure will mount to give Sanders a shot in the home opener in Week 3. Watson has already fired back at fans for what he calls disrespect, but the leash may be short.
For now, Sanders waits. The second-year quarterback will open the season as the backup, but in the NFL, opportunity can come at any moment. Whether it's Week 3 or later, the spotlight on this quarterback room isn't dimming anytime soon.
